If you’ve been to Denver’s Civic Center Park during the day, you may have seen people enjoying lunch in the sun. But if you’ve been there at night, you may have seen something else – rats taking over. That’s right, according to recent news reports, the park has seen an uptick in rat-related complaints recently.
One man interviewed by a local news station said that he’s seen the rats “right there” and pointed to an area of the park.
The issue is being watched closely by the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) and steps are being taken to address the problem.
“We have noticed that the number of complaints and referrals related to rats in the park has increased,” Danica Lee said, a Public Health Inspections Director for the City of Denver.
Rats can be found in any urban environment, Danica Lee said, but due to the sudden increase of rodents and the complaints it’s generating, the city of Denver took notice and is already taking action.
“In order to eliminate the food they may be having and the nesting spots they may be using, we eliminate any areas where they may make their nest,” said Lee.
The residents and visitors of the park are being encouraged to take the necessary steps to ensure the rats don’t have any reason to stay in Civic Center Park, Danica Lee adds. Trash is often seen on the grass that is leading up to the State Capitol. Denver7 crews also went to Colorado Veterans Monument and saw garbage even though trash cans are nearby.
The Denver Department of Parks and Recreation is doing its best by emptying trash cans and picking up trash more often, and working with an exterminator to address the issue.
Rats and the Civic Center Park
Rats are a common sight in urban environments, and they carry a number of diseases, including bubonic plague.
Rat-borne diseases have been responsible for human epidemics throughout history and this is one reason why the city of Denver is taking the recent uptick in complaints seriously.
Residents and visitors of Civic Center Park are being encouraged to take steps to ensure that the rats don’t have any reason to stick around, including:
- Keeping the area clean
- Disposing of trash properly
- Reporting any sightings of rats to the city
The Denver Department of Parks and Recreation is also doing its part by emptying trash cans and picking up garbage more often.
Rat-Borne Diseases
Rats are considered to be one of the most dangerous pests in urban environments because they carry many diseases.
Some of the more common rat-borne diseases include bubonic plague, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, and salmonellosis.
Bubonic Plague
Bubonic Plague is a serious, potentially deadly disease that is caused by a bacteria called Yersinia pestis. The bacteria are spread through the bite of an infected flea or contact with an animal that has the disease. Symptoms of bubonic plague include fever, chills, headache, and swollen lymph nodes (called “buboes”). If not treated, bubonic plague can lead to death.
Leptospirosis
a bacterial infection that affects the liver and kidneys and can be deadly. It is spread through contact with the urine of an infected animal, most commonly rats. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and vomiting.
Rat-Bite Fever
Rat-bite fever is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite or scratch of an infected rat. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and vomiting. Rat-bite fever can be fatal if not treated.
Salmonellosis
a foodborne illness that is caused by the bacteria Salmonella. The bacteria are spread through contact with contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Symptoms of salmonellosis include fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Salmonellosis can be fatal if not treated.
Prevention of Rat Infestations in Your Community
Prevention of rats starts with the community, individuals, and business owners. It is the first step toward solving a rat problem.
Tips to help prevent rat infestations:
- Keep your property clean and free of food debris and rubbish
- Store your garbage in metal or plastic containers with tight fitting lids. This will prevent rats from feeding on garbage, which can draw them into your building’s foundation or walls.
- Do not leave pet food out overnight
- Repair any cracks or holes in buildings that may provide access to rats
- Remove any weeds, woodpiles and other debris that may be used as nesting sites by rats
- Keep your grass trimmed short so you can see if there are burrows in the ground
- Do not leave pet food out overnight. Rats will eat anything – even birdseed. Put it away at night or in a covered container.
- Do not feed the birds – this will only attract rats
Choose a Competent Wildlife Removal Company
When all else fails, contact a wildlife removal company to trap and remove the rats from your property. Make sure you choose a competent company that has experience trapping and removing rats.
These companies can also help you with sealing your property to prevent future rat infestations.
At AAAC Wildlife Removal, we have been trapping and removing rats from homes and businesses for over 20 years. We are experts in rodent removal and know how to get rid of rats permanently.
If you have a rat problem, call us for a consultation.
News originally from https://www.thedenverchannel.com/lifestyle/health/denver-sees-an-uptick-in-rat-related-complaints-at-civic-center-park
